The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-20
LUCY'S GUARDIAN.
The Brief Story Of Wife's Sal
walton.

walton.
"You will-er--stay and-and meet
Mr.. Rochdale, my dear, will you
not?"
well, no, papa" replied Edith Las
celles, IN a meditative fashion, 81
don't think l will You see, my posi-
ton is a peculiar one. have no hest
tation in saying that L find it disa-
greeable one also. l suppose if l were
like heroine of romance l should feel
avid excitement and a strange thrill.
etc, ETC., at meeting the man who is
to be my husband. but who is utterly
unknown to me; but not being hero
ine at all, these feelings are wanting"
"Of course, my dear" Mr.. Lascelles
observed, a trife nervously, you know
you can refuse him if you like, but you
are so sensible, and"
Yes" cut in the girl, decisively,
''and shall lose five thousand a year.
shan't 1? Well, l tell you fatty. papa,
I shall lose the five thousand most GER
tainly if don't like the man."
Then you intend to let the money
slip from you altogether. In plain
words, you refuse"
Edith shook her head.
IL never do any thing in a hurry"
she determined, and a glance at her
pretty, firm mouth bore testimony to
her words; ''but you did not tell me,
papa, what induced Aunt Maria to
choose this Mr.. Rochdale more than
any other person."
''She was in love with his father
years ago. At least, believe so, my
dear. and so"
II understand Elith's lip curlel
in sneer; delightfully."- sentimental
and deplorably vulgar"
Two days later Edith found herself
ensconced in the suggest corner of
pretty Mrs. Dalton's drawing room.
She was very fond of Lucy; they had
been firm friends in their childish days
and Mrs. Dalton had the greatest re-
spect for the tall, handsome girl who
last time th0y had met had been in
Paris. when Edith was introduced to
Lucys husband, one of the kindest-
hearted men in the world-a drysalter,
or a sOap5oiler, or some such myster-
ious and consequently wealthy person
and to the golden-haired child the
very image of her mother and the idol
of the household.
You are looking pale, Lucy"
Edith remarked, as she stitched vigor-
ously at her work-she was never idle
moment
Lucy suddenly belied the suggestion
by coloring wildly, almost painfully.
II am very well. dear" she an
'swered; and Edith's quick ear caught
the faintest trace of annoyance in the
pretty voice.
She pOndered little over this, and
by and by Mrs. Dalton rose hurriedly.
You won't mind. Edith, if 1 leave
you for half an hour, will you? l
must go TO Dents; they have not sent
home the things ordered"
Let me go?" Edith put down her
work. You know you have been out
this morning. and Herbert does not
like TO see you tired when he comes
home"
20, the drive won't hurt me, and
would rather go myself. the people are
so stupid. know YOU won't be dull;
there is pile of new books. and baby
will come down if you would care to
have her."
Edith stared at the fire when alone.
If it was not too absurd" she said
to herself, as she recalled the nervous
ness and haste with which her friend
had spoken, Il should imagine that
Lucy did not care about my being with
her just now, She made me very
welcome, certainly; but she seems
changed, and 1 don't know exactly
where or how! Perhaps she is i'll. She
may say what she likes. but she looks
wretched. Ifso. am very glad 1 have
come. She is an emotional creature,
and would probably have become
wretched and depressed while Herbert
is away.
just about six o'clock Mrs Dalton
returned.
us Herbert IMP" she ashed, as she
threw off her mantle and united her
bonnet-strings. There was the faint
est flush on either cheek that might
have been caused by the autumnal
wind, bus seemed to rise from sup.
pressed excitement
Decidedly, Lucy is ILL.," Edith de
termined. as she replied in the mega
tive; but she said nothing, only re
solved that during Mr.. Dalton's forth,
coming absence she would take hel
friend in hand and doctor her.